Getting mercury out of products — picking the low hanging fruit

Keith Reopelle

The largest sources of the toxic mercury emissions in Wisconsin that contaminate fish and, in turn threaten our children's health, are coal-burning power plants (40%), products that contain mercury (35%), the ERCO chlorine plant in Port Edwards (20%), and other sources (5%).

Clean Wisconsin continues to work diligently on reducing mercury pollution from these sources. (Please refer to the cover article from the summer 2006 issue of The Defender titled, "Within past two years Wisconsin goes from mercury leader to laggard".) Most recently, Clean Wisconsin worked hard to obtain Governor Doyle's directive to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a rule achieving a 90% reduction of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants as soon as possible, and calling for a ban on products containing mercury.

The vast majority (78%) of mercury used in products domestically is consumed in the production of switches and relays, measuring devices such as thermometers and barometers, and thermostats (a particularly important switch application). Fortunately, there is functionally-equivalent or better non-mercury alternatives for nearly all of these products, as documented by a number of recent studies and European initiatives. Consequently, some states have already passed legislation prohibiting new sales of these products with mercury.

Mercury thermostats, switches/relays, and other mercury measuring devices, are subject to existing or pending sales restrictions in Connecticut, Maine, and Rhode Island. A recent Illinois law similarly prohibits these sales but exempts thermostats, while California and Oregon enacted laws prohibiting mercury thermostat sales only. Wisconsin was one of the first states in the country to regulate mercury emissions from power plants, and has voluntary collection programs for mercury in auto switches and thermostats, but has made no attempt to limit new mercury products from circulating and entering the waste stream as many other states have by restricting sales.

Clean Wisconsin is working with recyclers, waste haulers, leading corporations and legislators to develop policies to phase out the use of mercury in products where cost-effective alternatives are readily available. This spring we will work with policy-makers to write, introduce and move legislation through the process to become law. This will be a great opportunity for other organizations and individuals to get involved in establishing a law that will help protect our resources and our children's health. If you below to, or are familiar with an organization or corporation of health professionals, health care providers, children's advocates, sport fishers, or other related human welfare organizations that you think might support reducing mercury in Wisconsin's environment please contact Keith Reopelle at Clean Wisconsin at (608) 251-7020, extension 11.

Estimated Annual Mercury Releases from Common Products to Wisconsin's Environment in Year 2000 (in pounds)